Conveyer system



NOV. 7, Q W ROBBINS h CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed March lO, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l @yb/. www y Nov. 7, 1933. Q W RQBBINS 1,934,377

V coNvEYER SYSTEM Filed March lO, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQ/m Any.

'. of e Patented Nov. 7, 1933 1,934,377 coNvEYER SYSTEM Charles W. Robbins, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 10,V 1932. Serial No. 597,963

12 Claims. (Cl. 198-38) This invention relates to conveyor systems, and more particularly to switching mechanisms for selectively and automatically transferringv arn ticles from one conveyer to anotherfor distribut' n to diiierent points.

e primary object of the invention is to provide a Simple, efficient and flexible switching mechanism for conveyor systems.

accordance with one embodiment of the' invention, as used in connection with a conveyor syst-ein which includes a main conveyer line and a plurality of branch lines leading therefrom, there is provided a switching `mechanism for each branch line which includes a carrier trans fer means, individual electrical circuit including plurality of Vrelays for controlling an electrical motor circuit, individual thereto, for causing an actuation of the transfer means through a predetermined operating cycle. In order that tl carriers may automatically select the desired ch line, the relays of each individual circuit responsive to a predetermined setting of an electrical switch controlling member or a comoi-nation i rier reaches a point on the main line t t e branch line to which it is to be transierred, the Yswitch controlling members engage l actnate corresponding switches of the individualV circ it and the relays connected thereto are energized and maintained energized until the" carrier reaches a predetermined point on the 'main line. .at this point other switches are actuated and a circuit conditioned by the energized relays is completed for eifecting the actuation means and upon the carrier being e relay and motor circuits and the Switching operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which V1 a fragmentary plan view of one emt of a conveyer system to which the feathereof positioned on the carrierY and' means are conditioned for another power such as a belt (not shown) traveling underneath them. As shown in Fig. 1, branch conveyer lines 16 and 1'7 diverge at right angles from the main conveyer line 10 and structurally are substantially Similar to that of the main line. The branch lines 16 and 17 may be disposed in a hori-V zontal plane provided with power driven rolls or may be of the downwardly inclined gravity type, being herein shown as of the latter type wherein the carrier 11 is movedialong the branch line by gravity after it has been transferred thereto from the main line.

Any suitable power driven switching means may be employed at each of the branch lines for effecting a transfer of a carrier 11 from the main line 10 to the branch lines. carrier transfer means, forginstance, shown in the drawings for each of the branch lines and designated by the numeral 18 consists of a pair Aof endless: sprocket chains 19 in spaced relation and extending across the main line l0 in suitable alignment with the branch line and mounted on sprockets 20 fixed to shafts 23 journaled on the side rails 12 of the main line. The sprocket chains 19 are Vspaced so that they each travel between two adjacent rolls 13 of the mainV line (Fig. l)- with the uppe lengths of the chains disposed Slightly below the upper plane of the rolls 12 so that the bottoms of the carriers `11* do not engage the chains. Mounted on each of the* chains 19 is a pair of spaced lugs 24 (Fig. 3), the lugs of each chain being aligned with the corresponding lugs of the opposite chain. The lugs 2e extend outwardly from the perimeter of the chain'l9 so that when the chains are` caused to travel in the direction of the arrowv (Fig. 3) the pair of lugs which are at the right side of the carrier 11 will engage the same and cause it to be transferred transversely of the Ymain line to the rolls 13 of the branch line. The

side rail 12 of the main line 1() at the side from which the branch lines 16 and 17 diverge is notched as indicated at (Fig. l) to permit the carriers 1'1 to be moved from the main line to the branch line. After the chains 19 have advanced the carrier 11 a predetermined distance onto the branch line they are stopped and in The type of col this position the other pair of lugs 24 thereof will be stopped at a point `outside of the right ends of the rolls 13 of the main line, taking the place of the lugs 24, which last advanced the carrier. One of the sprocket shafts 23 has fixed thereto a pulley 26 which is driven from a pulley 27, fixed to a shaft of an electric motor 28, by means of a belt 30. The motor 28 is preferably of the type which includes a solenoid brake (not shown) whereby when the current to the motor is cut oif the brake is applied and is released upon the current being applied to the motor and is maintained released as long as the motor is running. This serves to hold the chain lugs 24 in their stopped position to be ready for the next transfer operation.

The forward upper ends of each of the carriers 11, which are conveyed in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), are provided with a transverse row of ve hinged electrical switch actuating members or plates 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, which Aare adapted to be individually and selectively moved into an operative raised position such as is shown, for example, in the case of the plates 3l and 33 or into an inoperative lowered position such as is shown in the case of the plates 32, 34 and 35 (Fig. 3). The switch actuating plates 31 to 35, inclusive, are hinged to the Aforward upper end of the carrier 11 in such a position that when they are in their operative vertical positions the rear surfaces abut the forward end wall of the carrier which serves as a stop member. This prevents the plates 31 to inclusive, from moving counterclockwise when they are moved into engagement ,with a transverse row of electrical switches 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 lying in the path thereof. A series of the switches 38 to 42, inclusive, is provided at .each branch line of the conveyer system, each series thereof being carried upon a frame 45 supported from one of the side rails 12 of the main conveyer line 10 at each branch line.

The switches 38 to 42, inclusive, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each comnormally open as shown in Fig. 2 and the contact 47 is of such a length that it extends below the lower end of the contact 46 into the path of its corresponding switch actuating plate, of the series 3l to 35, inclusive, which at the time may be in an operative raised position. As the carrier 1l is advanced toward the right (Fig. 2) each of the plates 31 to 35, inclusive, which have been moved upwardly will engage its corresponding resilient contact 47, and cause the latter to be engaged with its companion resilient contact 46 and finally pass to the right of both contacts. Due to the resiliency of the contacts 46 and 47 this movement of the raised` plates 31 to 35, in-

clusive, -past the contacts is readily accom- -plished without deleterious effects thereto and ythe resilient contacts immediately spring back to their normal open position. The selected contacts of this series together with the contacts c described in the next paragraph serve to condition a circuit (described later) for starting the motor 28.

An idler roll 13,0f the main line 10 at the right of the frame 45 carrying the switches 38 to 42, inclusive, and a 'predetermined distance from the point at which the switch actuating plates 3l to 35, inclusive, engage the switches is journaled in a U-shaped frame 43 having arms pivoted on the shaft of the next roll 13 at the right thereof (Fig. 2). The frame 48 is normally urged upwardly by a pair of compression springs 49 mounted between the lower surface of the frame 48 and a stationary U-shaped frame 50 extending between and fixed to the lower surfaces of the side frames 12. Normally the position of the yieldably mounted frame 48 is such that the upper portion of the periphery of the roll 13 journaled thereon is slightly above the corresponding portions of the other rolls 13 of the main line. Fixed to the lower end of the frame 48 and extending freely through an aperture in the frame 50 is anelectrical switch actuating mem` ber 51 (Fig. 3) which when the forward end of the carrier 11 moves onto the yieldable roll 13, actuates resilient contacts 52, 53 and 54.

In the circuit controlled by the above contacts are five electromagnetic relays 56, 57, 58, 59 and 66,'c0rresponding to the five plates 31 to 35, inelusive, and in the operation of the individual circuit one or allof the relays thereof or a certain combination thereof are energized. Each of the relays 56 to 60, inclusive, is provided with an operating winding and a holding winding. The operating windings are connected to the respective contacts 46 of the series of switches 38 to 42, inclusive, so that they may be selectively actuated by'said switches.

Each of the relays 56 to 60, inclusive, is equipped with a normally closed back contact and right andleft normally open front contacts. The relays at any given station which are to be selected for operation by those of the plates 31 to 35, inclusive, which have been raised into an operative position upon the carrier 1l, which is to be switched at that branch line, have their circuit completing connections made to the right front contacts and the relays corresponding to the plates which are not in an operative position have these connections made to the back contacts. The back contacts of relays 56 and 58 and the right front contacts of relays 57, 59 and 60 arenot used in the particular circuit illustrated in Fig. 3 but are each shown with a short lead or conductor connected thereto ready to be used in case it should be desired to use another combination ofthe plates 31 to 35, inclusive, for the branch line 16.

The motor 28 receives its power from a pair of line wires 61 and 62 connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) and the current to the motor is controlled by a solenoid switch 63 having an operating winding 100 and a holding winding 117.V The operating winding 100 is arranged to be included in the circuit closed by armatures of the series of relays in case the given switching point has been selected for actuation. This circuit extends to ground through contacts 52 and 53. 'I'he contact 54 associated with the latter controls a circuit extending through a slow acting relay 64, which serves to break the holding circuits of the selected relays. The switch 63 and the relay 64 are actuated from a low voltage Referring to Fig. 3 wherein the electrical circuit for the transfer means 18 of the branch line 16 is schematically illustrated in conjunction with the elements of the transfer means it will be observed that the hinged plates 31 and 33 of the carrier 11 are in their upper operative positions and the plates 32, 34 and 35 are in their lowered inoperativepositions which is the selected coinbination thereof for the branch line 16. With this combination of the plates 31 to 35, inclusive, on a carrier 11, which is to be transferred from the main conveyer line l to the branch line 16, the iollowing electrical circuit will be completed when the plates 31 and of the carrier 11 reach a predetermined point on the main line 1G adjacent the actual point of transfer thereof to the branch line 16, during the advance of the carrier 11 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) As the plates 31 and 33 advance past the resilient contacts 46 and 47 of the switches 38 and 40, respectively, a circuit is completed from the grounded battery 66, through a line 79, lead 71 connected to the operating winding of the relay 56, a lead 72 also connected to the other terminal of the winding, the closed contacts 46 and 47, leadY 73 and line 74 to ground. A similar circuit may be traced in connection with the relay 58 through the closed contactsl' and 47 of the corresponding switch 40.

This results in the energization of the relays 56 and 58 and the pulling over of the armatures thereof, while relays 57, 59 and 60 are not energized. AThus a right front contact 77, back contact 78, right front contact 79 and back contacts 80 and 81 of relays 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60, respectivel are closed as well as left iront *contacts 83 and 84 of the relays 56 and 58, respectively. At the same instant back Contact 85, right and left front contacts 86 and 87, back contact 88, right and left front contacts 89 and 99 and right and left iront contacts 91 and 92 or" relays 56, 57, 58, 59 and 6", respectively, are opened. This, it will be apparent, also completes at the saine instant as the completion of the above circuit a lock-up circuit for the relay 56 from the grounded battery 66, line 70, lead 71, through the holding winding of the relay 56, a lead 93, the contact 83, a ccntact 9i insulated from the contact 77 hut engaged with the contact 83 when the armature oi the relay 56 was pulled over, line 97, contact 98 and the armature of the slow acting relay 64 to ground. A similar lock-up circuit may be traced in connectionwith the relay 58 through the contact 84 and a contact 99 engaged therewith when the armature of the relay 58 was pulled over.

It will be obvious that the last described circuitsA serve to hold the relays 56 and 58 energized and thus lock-up the armatures thereof in contact with the contacts 77 and 79, respectively, after the plates 31 and 33 have moved past the switches 38 and 40 in the continued advance of the carrier. In other words, when the plates 31 to 35, inclusive, have all passed their respective contacts 46 and 47, the armatures of the relays 56 and 58 corresponding to the operatively positioned plates 3l and 33 will be locked up, the armatures of the other relays remaining in their normal retracted position. This provides a continuous circuit from the grounded battery 66 through the operating winding 100 of the solenoid switch 63 to the Contact 53, which may be traced as follows: Battery 66, line 70, a lead 101, the armature of the relay 56, contact 77, a lead 192, the armature of the relay 57, a lead 163, the arrnaure of the relay S, contact 79, a lead 166, the armature of the relay 59, contact 8G, a lead 107 to the armature of the relay 60, contact 81, line 198, through the operating winding Y191') of the switch 63, a line 109, and to the Contact 53.

The circuit for actuating the solenoid switch 63 Y which closes the circuit to the inotor 28 is thus conditioned ready for completion up to the normolly open contact 53 which closed in the fol' lowing manner.

En the continued advance oi the carrier 11 on the main conveyor line and shortly after the plates 31 and 33 have actuated the switches 38 and 49, the iorwardend oi the carrier nieves onto the yieldahly supported rolll, as shown byk the dotted outline positioiL of the carrier in Fig. 2. 1n this position the carrier 11 is aligned with the notched porton of the side rail 12 of the main line l0 and is ready to he transierred to the branch line 16. As the carrier 11 rnoves onto the yieldab-ly supported roll 18 the switch actuating member 5l will be moved downwardly and close the normally open contacts and 53, thus completing the circuit through conductor 109 and grounded conductor 119 for operating the -enoid switch 68 which was previously conditioned for completion up to the contact 53.

The operating w.- ing 190 of the solenoid switch 63 is thus energized and thereby an upward movement ot the solenoid core is ctecte to'cause the closing or" associated contacts which connect the line wires 61 and 52 to the motor 28, the solenoid brake of which is immediately released the carrier transfer means 18 is set in motion. The lugs 2e carried by the chains 19 predeterminedly positioned at the right of the carrier 11 3) upon the completion of the last preceding cycle of operation' ofthe transfer means 18 advance into engagement' with thev carrier and ltransfer it transversely iii-ern the niain conveyor line 10 to the rolls 13 oi the branch line 16 upon which it thereafter moves by gravity.

This transfer ci the carrier 11 to the rolls 13 of the branch line 16 permits the yieldahly supported roll 13 of the main line 19 to inove upwardly, thereby perrn'tting the resilient vcontacts 52, 53V and 5e to move to their normal open position ready for the next transfer operation. The opening of the contacts 52, 53 and 54 has no eiect on the closed circuit to the rootor 28, since the holding circuit tl ereoic completed previous to the opening of contacts.

Suhsta.. tially at the instant that the niotor circuit, above described, was completed for setting in inoticn the transfer means '18 whe the switch controlling inernber 51 was moved downwardly the contacts 53 Vand 5e will be close-` thus completing a circuit from the cattery 65, line 7o, through the Winding of the slow acting relay 64, line 111, contacts 54, 58 and' 52l and line 119 to ground. Thus'the relay 64 is energized and the armature thereof pulled over from its normal engagement with the contact 98 thereby opening the loch-up circuit of the relays 56 and 58 and perniitti' their armatures to rnove to their normal pcs ion shown in Fig. 3 ready for the next swit operation. This, it will oe oovious, breaks circuit through the energized operating winding 166 of the solenoid switch 63, but t circuit to the motor 28 is not broken at this time due to the holding circuit, previously completed, which holds the core of the switch 63 in its upper position thus 1naintaining the motor circuit closed until the operation of the transfer nieans 18 completed.

The upward movement of the core of the switch 63, previously described, permitted normally open resilient contacts lle and 115 associated with the lower insulated of the core to close. A circuit is thus completed irene. the battery 66, line 70, a lead 116, through thel holding winding 117V cf the switch 63, a lead 118, contacts 11e and 115, a lead 119, normally closed resilient contacts 120 and 121 of a switch 122, and line ll() to ground. The contact 121 of switch 122 lies in the path of movement of the lugs 2e of one of the chains 19. This holding circuit is held closed until the contacts 120 and 121 are broken by the engagement and movement past 121 of lug 2d which advanced the last Vpreviously transferred carrier l1, the lug at the beginning of a transfer operation being positioned at the under side of the chain 19 at the left end thereof. This holding circuit is held closed for a period of time sufficient to cause an actuation of the transfer means 1S through a complete operating cycle and upon completion thereof is broken by the opening of the contacts 12e and 121 by means of the chain lug (dotted outline 1Fig. 3) advancing therepast. The openi g of the holding circuit at the contacts 120 and 121 deenergiaes the h lding winding 117 whereupon the core of the s-` itch 63 rapidly moves downwardly disconnecting the line wires 61 and from the motor and opening the circuit to the witch 122 at the contacts and 115 before the contacts 120 and 121 close again the chain lug 24; moves past the contact 121 after breaking the circuit at this point comes to a stop. The entire transfer means circuit is now conditioned for another switching operation.

When the circuit to the motor 28 is opened the solenoid brake of the motor is applied and the transfer means 18 immediately stops with the chain lugs 2a thereof in he positions shown in Fig. 3.V rlhe switch 122 is positioned at such a distance from the position of rest of the lug 24, that the lug will travel this distance while the brake is stopping the motor. The transfer means 18 is now ready for the next transfer operation.

1n Fig. i an electrical circuit for the transfer means 1S of the branch line 17 is fragmentarily illustrated.` The particular combination of the plates 31 to 35, inclusive, on theY carrier 1l, which have been chosen for the branch line l'l, comprises the plates 31, 32 and 33 and therefore are shown in their vertical operative positions and consequently in their advance with the carrier 11 on the main conveyer line 10 will close circuits through their corresponding switches 3S, 39 ai) to operate the relays 56, 5'7 and 58, espectively The relays 56, 57 and 58 like the relays 56 and 58 previously described in connection with the circuit (Fig. 3) for the transfer 13 of the branch line 16 have their circuit operating connections made to the right front contacts 77, 86 and '19, respectively, and theV 'have these connections made to the back contacts 8o and 81, reslectively. 1n view of the previous detailed description and tracing of the circuits closed by the plates 31 and 33 of Fig. 3 a similar description and tracing of the circuits closed by the plates 3l, 32 and 33 of Fig. l is not believed necessary.

It will be evide t from the above description that this invention provides a simple switching mechanism for a conveyer system whereby carriers being conveyed thereon be automatically transferred to predetermined branch lines thereof. The switching mechanism for a predetermined branch line is conditioned in advance of the carrier to be transferred thereto reaching the point of transfer by selective means the resilient contactV adjustable on the carrier and upon the carrier reaching the point of transfer the switching or transfer means is caused to be set in operation by the position of the carrier to effect the transfer of the carrier and .is then returned to its normal position ready for another transfer operation. By conditioning the transfer means for operation in advance of the carrier reaching the actual point of transfer the transfer means may be operated and returned to its normal position so that the following carrier which may have been abutting the transferred carrier and is also to be transferred to the same branch line may be transferred thereto without any delay in the operation of the transfer means or interference between the carriers.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been described and illustrated, five selecting plates and five relays corresponding thereto are used. Since any combination of one, two,'three, four or five selecting plates may be used at a given transfer point, it is apparent that with this arrangement 31 transfer points may be provided in one conveyer system. fn case a greater number of transfer points is required, the addition of one more selecting plate and one more relay in this chain of relays will very greatly increase the number of possible combinations. It is of substantial value to keep the number of selecting plates, or equivalent devices, such as pins, small, particularly in the case of small sized carriers, so that the breadth of contact area with the switches or equivalent devices may be kept large enough to avoid danger of missing the switch or of striking the wrong switch. Obviously, if narrow plates 3l, etc., or-narrow pins are used, the portion of the switch which is to be engaged should be made wider.

Although a specific embodiment of this invention has herein been disclosed and described, it is to be understood that other modifications and adaptations thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a conveyer system, a mam conveyer for articles, a plurality of transfer points, transfer means at said transfer points, a source of electical power for effecting the operation of the vtransfer means, selective means on each article bein.cr conveyed adjustable to determine the point means responsive to a further predetermined movement of the article for causing said source of power to effect the operation of the transfer means.

' 2. In a conveyor system, a main convcyer for articles,a plurality of 'transfer points, electrically operated transfer means at said transfer points, selective means on each article being conveyed adjustable for a particular ransfer point, an individual electrical circuit for each transfer means, each of said circuits including a plurality of switches positioned at a point in advance of the selected transfer point for the article and actuated by the selective n on the article for conditioning the circuit for operation, and means operable by the article upon reaching the transfer point for completing the circuit for effecting the operation of the transfer means.

3. In a conveyer system, a main conveyor' for articles, a plurality of transfer points, electrically operated transfer means at said transfer points,

control means comprising a selectable number of devices projecting from an article being conveyed and a chain of relays at each transfer point equal in number to the maximum possible number of projecting devices and operated thereby, and means for actuating said transfer means under the control of said relays, said relays at each transfer point being interconnected to be actuated only by a predetermined one of the possible combinations of said projecting devices.

CHARLES W. ROBBINS.

lOO 

